Electric switch



Nov. 30, 1926. 1,608,582

J. A. COLE ELECTRIC SWI TCH 1 Filed June 27, 1925 w 1 Z2 m JUTT.

Patented Nov. 30, 1926.

UNITEDFSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. COLE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, TO J. LIVINGSTON & 00., INC, 015

' NEW YORK, N. Y., A 00320353510151 NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed .Tune 27, 1925. Serial No. 39,887.

This invention relates to electric switches in general and more particularly to improve-' ments in high current carrying switches such as disclosed in my Patent No. 1,045,77 3, for a quick action electric switch, dated November 26th, 1912.

It has been found desirable to obtain a switch'of appreciable capacity which is positively actuated into open or closed position.

after the actuating means have been moved into actuating position by the initiating or operating means.

It is also an object of this invention to providea switch in which, after the operating means has been moved a predetermined amount, said switch will be positively ac tuated to move into open or closed position.

It is further an object of this invention to provide a high power snap switch having spring impelled actuating means, said means being adapted to be set in operating position by lever operated cam mechanisms.

With the above and other objects in View, as will be apparent, this invention cons1sts in the construction, combination and arrangementof parts, all as hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of an improved switch embodying features of the present invention with the switch in open position.

Figure 2 1s a plan view partly'in sect on when the switch is closed and with parts omitted.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken on line III'III of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken on line IV-IV' of Figure 2.

As shown on the drawings: The structure selected for illustration comprises a base 1 on which is mounted a plate 2 of non-conducting material. Secured on the plate 2 is a pair of flanged supporting members 3. The supporting members 3 have secured thereon an u per plate). of nonconducting material. hlounted on the plate 4 isa pair of contact binding posts 5 which are adapted to be connected to their respective contact plates 6 through the fuses and mountings 7 therefor. As shown in Figure 3 the plates 6 are connected to their correspondin binding posts 7 by means of the con uctors 8. Communicating with the side a bar 14 by means of bolts 15. Secured between the bar 14. and the carriage 12 are a plurality of laminated switch members 16 which when the carriage 12 is in its lowermost position areadapted to connect the contact members 9 and 10. Extending through the members 3 are a pair of rotatable rods 17 and 18. The rod 17 has rigidly secured thereon outside of the supporting members 3 a pair of cam members 19 and 20. The cam members 19 and 20 are similar in shape with the exception that the cam member 19 has provided thereon an extension 21 to which is pivotally secured a rod 22. The rod 22 extends through and is slidable in an aperture in a bracket member 23. The bracket member 23 is secured to the base 1. Rigidly secured on the rod 18 are a pair of arms 24 and 25. One end of each of the arms 2 .1 and '25 is slotted to engage the projecting lugs 13 of the carriage 12. The other end'of the arm 24 is pivotally secured to a rod 26 which is slidab y mounted in a bracket 27 secured on the base 1. Surrounding the rods 22 and 26 are compression springs 28 and 29, respectivelya '33 which has connected thereto an operating lever 34. Suitable stop members (not shown) are provided on the panel member 32 for limiting the rotative movement of the lever 34. On the cam 33 there is provided a pair of angular-1y spaced radially extending members or lugs 35 and 36. Axially extending on the projection 21 of the cam member 19 is a lug 37 which is adapted to be engaged in turn by the members 35 and 36 for alternately rotating the shaft 17.

In operation, when it is desired to close the switch from the open position shown in Figure 1 and in dotted lines in Figure 3, the lever 34 is moved in a clockwise direction. The member 35 of the cam 33 will engage lllli the projection 37 of the cam 19, causing the latter to rotate in a clockwise direction. As soon as the cam 19 has been rotated sufficiently to bring the pivotal point of the slidable rod 22' beyond dead center, the spring 28 will positively rotate the cams 19 and 20, causing the projections-3'1 thereon to engage with the projections. 13 of the carriage 12 to move the latter downwardly to closed position, thereby closing the switch with a quick snap.

When it is desired to move the switch to open position, the handle 34 is moved backwardly, and a reversal of the above described operation takes place. It will be noted that as soon as the cam members 19 and 20 have caused the carriage 12 to move downwardly beyond the central point of movement in slots 14 so that the pivotal connection between the rod 26 and the arm 24 has passed its dead center, the spring 28 together with the spring 29 will assist in unison to positively actuate the switch and it will act to hold the switch in closed position until the cams 19 and 20 have again moved the switch at least one-half way towards its open position. When the switch carriage has been moved beyond the central point of movement in slots 14 toward open position, the spring 29 will become effective in assisting in the upward mevement of the carriage just as it assisted in its downward movement. It will be obvious that this construction provides a means for positively actuating a switch of appreciable current carrying capacity. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that by providing a quick make and break mechanism which is set in operation by operating the lever 34 a predetermined amount, a veryefiicient switch is obtained which insures that the switch be positively in either open or closed position.

I am aware that many changes may be made, and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not pur ose limiting the patent granted hereon, ot erwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. An electric switch, operating means therefor, actuating means for positively actuating said switch to open or closed position, said actuating means being responsive to said operating means when the latter is in a predetermined position, and resilient means associated with said actuating means for positively actuating said switch, said resilient means being res onsivo to said actuating means when the atter has been actuated a predetermined amount.

2. An electric switch comprising a'pair of spaced contact members, a. laminated switch member for coaction therewith, a movable support for said laminated switch member,

cams for actuating said support and switch member, and spring controlled means adapted to cause operation of said cam members to move said switch member into and out of engagement with said contact members.

3. An electric switch comprising contact members, a slidable laminated switch device, cams for operating the same, means for selectively governing the operation of said cams, and spring controlledimeans responsive to a predetern'iined movement of said governing means .to open and close said switch.

4. An electric switch comprising cont-act members, a slid'able carriage, a laminated switch member carried by said carriage, cams for operating said carriage, spring controlled mechanisms adapted at predetermined times to actuate said cams, and a control device for rendering said spring controlled mechanisms active.

5. An electric switch comprising a base, contact members thereon,. a movable carriage, a laminated switch member carried by said carriage for coaction with said contact plates, a rotatable shaft. cams supported on the ends thereof, projections on the ends of said carriage in the path of said cams, a spring controlled mechanism for operating said cams at predetermined times to engage said projections to move said carriage into and out of engagement with said contact members, and lever operated means for initially operating said spring controlled mechanis 6. A switch comprising a base, slotted supports thereon. laminated switch means slidable with reference to said supports, a ro-' tatableshaft, cams thereon adapted to coact with said laminated switch means. a rod pivotally connected with one of said cams. a spring engaged on said rod. a projection on said rod, and lever operated means adapted to coact with said projection to move said rod past a dead center position to permit the spring to causesaid cams ,to actuate said laminated switch means.

7. A switch comprising a movably mounted laminated switch means, cams for actuating the same. spring controlled means for operating said cams, lever operated means for selectively governing the operation of said spring controlled means, and a spring controlled mechanism coacting with said laminated switch means to hold the same in open and closed positions.

8. An electric switch of the class described comprising a slidably mounted switch member, a cam for actuating the same, a rod pivotally connected to saidcam, a spring on said rod, a projection onv said cam, means adapted to coact with said projection to cause the spring to actuate said cam at a predetermined time to operate said switch member, and a spring controlled mechanism associated with said switch member and adapted to be initiated by the operation of said cam to hold the switch member in closed and open position.

9. A switch comprising a movable switchmember, a cam coacting therewith to move the same into open and closed position, a slotted support, a rod pivotally connected to said cam and slidably eniaged in said support, a spring on said rod etween said support and said cam means for moving said -rod and sup ort past a dead center position to permit t e sprin to cause the cam to positively actuate said switch member, and sprin controlled means associated with said switch member for holding the same in open and closed positions responsive to the operation of said cam.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto sub-. 20

scribed by name.

. JOHN A. COLE. 

